Do You Wish the New BlackBerry Bold 9700 Was Bigger? Like Say the Same Size as the Original Bold??

Since getting my new BlackBerry Bold 9700 earlier this week I have been living on cloud nine. It's uber fast. The optical trackpad is silky smooth. The 3.2 megapixel camera is noticeably better than the original Bold's and the additional flash memory boosts operating performance considerably. And I've been blown away by the battery life so far -- over 48 hours before needing to charge!!!

With positives oozing out of the device, the only thing that I have had to really come to terms with is how much smaller the new Bold 9700 actually is compared to its big older brother the 9000 (I tried to get the images above close to actual size and scale). And reading through the Bold 9700 forums and talking to other original Bold owners making or looking to make the upgrade to the 9700, it appears I'm not the only one.

When the Bold 9000 came out, I was a Curve user. At the time, I actually griped over the Bold's big size and deemed the size a negative. But over the year and a half following its introduction, I have really grown to LOVE the big-boned Bold. They keyboard is heaven to type on, and that extra 1/4" of width in the screen makes a difference. Plus, the device just looks impressive - the full leather back, the chrome band, the shiny black area above the display.... the Bold 9000 is the luxury SUV of the BlackBerry Smartphone line and when you see it in public it stands out in the crowd. The BlackBerry Bold 9700 is stellar, but it's more of one of these new, smaller, cross-over SUVs. The 9000 was my daily driver for the past few months, and making the switch to the Bold 9700 it now feels like I've gone away from using a Bold to using a Curve again.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Bold 9700. I just hope / wish RIM would also release a same-sized upgrade in the Bold 9000 form factor for all the people out there who appreciate a bigger device with a little extra bling (the 9700 has a more conservative look). Honestly, when I went to the Rogers store Wednesday to buy a 9700 they also had the new Bold 9000 in white on display. If only that white Bold 9000 had 256MB of flash memory, trackpad and a 3.2 megapixel camera, I would have purchased it over the smaller Bold 9700. The Bold 9700 needs to exist as device (it's awesome!), but it's almost like RIM should have branded it the Curve 3G or something (maybe slapped on a Curve-esque keyboard), then released a bigger device as an update to the Bold more true to the original Bold's heritage. On the other hand, to each his/her own. My girlfriend traded in her Curve 8320 for the Bold 9700 and is head over heels for it. I love the Bold 9700 too... I just can't help but miss the 9000's big keyboard everytime I pick it up.

I just wonder how many Bold 9000 users actually voted "No" on the poll? As a 9000 owner, the form factor of the Curve 9700 is the primary reason why I wouldn't consider buying one. I suppose when it is time to upgrade, and if there wasn't anything to replace the 9000 with a similar form factor, I would relent and buy something with the best specs regardless of size. I'm just really disapointed that RIM labeled this phone a Bold. I mean really, what's so bold about it?

Yes, I was also disappointed that RIM did not retain the original size dimensions of the Bold 9000 in its design of the Bold 9700.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Bold 9000 - the keyboard is PERFECT!!

That being said, I WILL be selling my Bold 9000 for the Bold 9700. Why? Because the Bold 9700 has 256MB flash memory (RAM), a slightly higher screen resolution, a 3.2 Megapixel camera, and the awesome optical track pad! This Bold will be the FASTEST BlackBerry on the market!! Even faster than the iPhone 3GS!! Yes, Apple, RIM beats you again. Deal with it Apple!!

This is what I want to see in a RIM premiere phone. I want the ORIGNINAL Bold 9000 size, 256MB RAM, 700MGz processor, a 5 Megapixel camera, and the optical trackpad.

RIM, please be willing to create the HIGHEST END BlackBerry for the elite customers who are willing to pay more for the ultra-high end BlackBerry device. I'm talking about creating the Rolls Royce Bentley of BlackBerries. I would buy it in a freaking second!! I want the VERY BEST.

Does anybody know when the Bold 9700 will be released on AT&T? I want to buy it NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really love my BOLD 9000so much that I switched from my IPhone 3G to a Bold, back to IPhone 3G to IPhone 3GS and now back to a BOLD and this coming from an Apple user in general. I just love the way it looks and feels. It looks very manly and sexy at the same time. Im sure the 9700 might be a little better under the hood, but it's not enough to make me jump right on the bandwagon. I just love my BOLD 9000 and soon Im going to hook it up with a new look as soon as my new bezel, trackball and keyboard comes in the mail

Personally I think the bigger the device the more sturdy it feels. I remember back in the day where I used a good ol 8700 and it was a really solid brick. Didn't worry that when dropped it would break.

Put a trackpad, higher screen resolution, better camera in my 9000 and I'm good. I think you could argue that the 9700 or the Storm 2 is the new flagship BB. RIM needs a device that clearly stands out as the top of the line.

How about a new 9900 series with a larger screen and keyboard. Trackpad all the bells and whistles. Highest screen resolution yet. Thinner form factor. Black metallic bezel. and lastly a 5+ mega pixel camera with auto focus with a decent zoom.

I don't have a Bold, I have always wish I have. Instead my carrier gave me a curve 8900 that I love. So this upgrade will be more than welcome. Just pre-ordered. It should arrive next week! Can't wait!

I'm happy for the 9700... it's another Berry that's gonna please a lot of people and sell a lot of phones. There is, however a certain Bold faction who doesn't see enough changes to warrant the upgrade to a smaller device, and is willing to wait for a real "9000" upgrade. I'm going to wait 'til that happens, because I'm running .314, which to me is like getting a whole new Bold anyway. My 9000 is still plenty good enough - bring on software updates!!

The 9700 is a disgrace to the name bold. If Rolls Royce made a Phantom that was half the size and ugly, nobody would care how fast it was. They wouldn't want it b/c it lacks class. And og Phantom owners would be pissed.

Right. I have bigger hands and using my friends blackberries annoys me. I love the size of my Bold. it's a BEAST of the best kind and i love it. it doesn't look like the other BBs and that's what I love. i will oogle the 9700 in the store but i will not upgrade. :-(

I'm on Verizon. I am very disappointed that we never got the 9000. The Tour has nice features, but the Bold 9000 form factor is a truer upgrade to the 8800. I do not understand why RIM released so many phones with different names and such similar form factors. If you want a smaller device, a 3G Curve will fit the bill.

I say keep the Bold big. Hopefully, RIM will see the error in its ways with the next Bold release.

For different folks :)
I'll end up getting a 9700 I'm sure (I don't drink the BerryAid, I swim in it :p ) but I'll be much more excited when the 9000 form gets updated!
The wide screen and giant keyboard can't be beat...for me at least. Jam some more memory and a better camera into the 9000, mix with 5.0, and serve chilled ;)

The ONLY reason I wont buy the 9700 is that it is simply too small, it's similar to a curve and I gave my Curve to my daughter and bought the Bold, if you like the smaller form factor then enjoy your phone, I love my Bold 9000 and will stick with it.

I was never fond of the size of the 9000. Yes bigger may be better in regards to some things *cough*, but phone wise, i love the size of my 9700. Going from a Storm which is just as big as a 9000, I feel relieved I can slide this phone into my pocket without it being too noticable if i happen to lose my holster (or break it since I always seem to break my holsters :S)...

I dont know this for sure, but I noticed the screens for the new tour, curve, and bold are all the same ratio as the storm. so if you send a picture to a storm user, he can turn his screen landscape and see your picture full screen.

I would kinda like a bigger screen though. But standardized seems like it may be easier for the developers if you ask me.

I've owned a Curve 8310, a Bold, a Curve 8900, and now a 9700. I LOVE my 9700 precisely because it is the size of a Curve but has the Bold-style keyboard. I liked my Bold, but I found it was too big and heavy for me to use all the time - I take meeting notes on my BB, so I do a lot of typing on it - so I switched to the 8900. I didn't like the hard buttons on the 8900, so I was first in line at the store (literally) when the 9700 came out. For me, the 9700 with the trackpad and the softer keys is absolutely perfect. However my fiance has the Bold and it's perfect for him - his hands are huge and he could barely hang on to the Pearl he had at first. He was much happier when he switched to the Bold. He's played around with my 9700 but I don't think he'll be switching - he likes the trackpad but greatly prefers the larger size of the Bold.

The keyboard isn't really that much smaller, it's mainly down to the bezel around the edges right? To be honest, I see this phone appealing so much to a wider audience. I know for a fact I would have never got a Bold 9000 because it looks ridiculously big IMHO in a girl's hands.

I am more of a James Bond kinda guy, where I love my gizmos and gadgets small,compact and covert and my martinis big! I just think a large size phone screams for attention and says "look what I got."Keyboard is not much of an issue, I have big thumbs and can type with little to no errors!No one would know I have the small compact device, so it couldn't be stolen or taken away if I was a POW, I could send my GPS location to MI6.Now if Q could only make me thos sunglasses with text visual so noone will know I am texting as I wouldn't have to look down at my phone!

There are many of us who DON'T have tiny little fingers and need a little larger keyboard and screen in order to operate a device. I fully appreciate the advances that the 9700 has built into it. But I'll never be able use something smaller than my Bold 9000. Too fat, feeble and fossilized!

i have the tour and i think the 9700 is too small...when you put it side by side you notice the difference. I was really excited about getting the 9700 but after comparing it with the tour, i will stay on with my tour because its the right size for me and there isnt much difference between the tour and bold 9700, besides the trackpad and wifi

Hasn't it already been confirmed by some "CB insiders" that RIM is indeed working on another "big" BB?

Just because the first Bold was big, it doesn't mean that every other entry in the Bold series/line has to be big.
Choice is a good thing.
If you want a smaller form factor go with the 9700, and if you prefer the larger size then buy/keep the 9000. The difference in specs isn't that big anyway. The major difference is that now so many more carriers will have a Bold model in their lineup.

The bigger/9000 will come in due time. But as long as the 9000 is still selling well, they'll keep cranking them out.

Honestly? It doesn't really matter. I will just grow accustomed to using the smaller form factor. What really matters is what under the hood and thankfully the new version doesn't disappoint in that regard.

Funny thing is, when the bold 9000 was released I was using a Curve 8310 and had no interest in upgrading. I initially thought it was too big... But over time I started to appreciate the size of the Bold, however I still went for the 8900.

Now I'm ready for some Boldness, what does RIM go and do...they go modest, thats what. FAIL.

Hopefully if/when they make a Bold 3 it will be the same size as the original, with more app. mem, 5meg camera, and 4gig internal storage. now that would be nice. why did they get rid or the internal storage anyway?

The poll currently shows 52% feels a smaller Bold is fine. I find it hard to believe an "owner" of a Bold would vote for a smaller one: meaning I'm pretty sure most of that 52% are non-Bold users. Maybe the poll should be asking only BlackBerry Bold 9000 owners.

Those who have never actually "used" the Bold 9000 (and I don't count playing with one on display in a store as making someone a Bold user) won't really know what they are missing when moving to the smaller 9700.

Since non-Bold owners are already used to those tiny BB Curves and 83xx, of course they most likely will feel a smaller Bold is just fine.

To give a Curve user an idea of what it feels like, think of moving from a Curve to a Pearl. :p

I have a Tour, and am Thankful the 9700 is basically the same size, I've drooled over the Bold for a long time, but network coverage was an issue, Now with Bell getting the 9700 I was worried I jumped to the Tour to quickly, but seeing its form factor, I am happy with the Tour.

When they bring out a Bold Size, possibly a hiar wider evem Berry on the Bell Network I'll upgrade my tour.

...positive about the size...I don't have mine yet, but I will pick it up as soon as it hits AT&T next week.

I hear you with the 9700 looking more like a Curve (and what would be wrong with a third Curve (Curve 8300, the "Refresh" 8900, and the 3G 9700...)

So yes, I will likely have preferred it to have been born a Crackberry Curve 3G as well, but barring semantics, we will all love the addition of yet another Berry, the fastest and most responsive one to date. I'm glad to hear about the trackpad being a welcome addition by everyone who has had the privilege of being first witness of the increasingly diverse nature of this combination of technology, style, and sophisticati;oit is, count me in...:D

It's funny; on the BlackBerry web site, on the Bold 9000 page it says "accept no substitutes".
Pesonally, I just got a Tour to replace my 9000 but I'm already missing it. Too lucky I didn't sell it yet.

I just dont get how some people can say smaller is better....A mean ask any woman if smaller is always better and you will see. The bigger screen makes so much more sense for browsing, reading news articles, ebooks, movies and the list goes on. Not to mention the keyboard. Am a big boy with big thumbs and i am so comfortable typing on my original bold i hardly use my laptop any more. Any word document, excel files i do it all on my bold, heck i written a whole paper on my bold the other day ....There is no way i could have done that with the curve keyboard which is essentially what the new bold has. Yes it is a "superbly" beautiful phone with great features but my wish and prayer right now is that rim will keep the original bold design and just give it the 9700 inner features like memory, camera, maybe even the trackpad but keep it the same size as we have all grown to know and absolutely love.

I wonder what else could RIM pack into a Bold if they had kept the 9000's size. I am amazed at how much they packed into the 9700's tight form factor, it's a marvel. I'm looking at getting the new 9700, and can't wait for AT&T to release it. I decided to hold off on getting the 9000 once I heard about the 9700.

I am new to the blackberry world. I have the Curve 8320 which I bought from a co-worker. I instantly fell in love with my phone. My husband claims I sleep with it! I don't know what to expect with the new Bold however; I am looking forward to finding out. I thought I wanted the Storm 2 but after playing with another co-workers phone, I found that I do not care for it. It is too heavy!! I like a spacious keyboard however; I have gotten used to the Curve's keyboard and I'm dealing with it. All I can say is "come on Nov. 16th!" Does anyone know if T-mobile will be selling the new Bold for a lesser price closer to Christmas?

For finally addressing something that has been bothering me since the announcement of the "ONYX" 9700. I am a proud and happy owner of the 9000 and it pained me to see the smaller form factor of the Bold 2. I too transitioned from a curve to the Bold and thought that I would never go back to a smaller keyboard once I fell in love with the elegant, spacious and "BOLD" keyboard on the 9000.

Don't get me wrong, the 9700 looks beautiful and sleek and I'll more than likely try one out for size, I just feel like I'll be cheating on my girlfriend by putting the 9000 to the side and twiddling with a smaller yet more powerful replacement.

Man, if they updated the innards of the original Bold, along with a better camera, optical trackpad and better memory, I wouldn't think twice about getting another bold 9000. Here is what I think RIM may be having up their sleeve.

We all know that a new touchscreen/physical qwerty Berry is around the corner. I believe that the form factor will have to be equal if not be slightly bigger than the 9000, I just can't see having a touchscreeen any smaller than the original Bold's screen along with a physical keyboard. It may be named Bold 3? It may take on an entirely different moniker but I think we'll see something along the size of the original sometime soon.

In the meantime, I'll be playing around with my petite new girlfriend while reminiscing about my previous one.

It's obvious that the 9700 is smaller than the 9000, but that doesn't say anything about the keyboard. I haven't used either device, but from the images I've seen, it doesn't look like they keyboard is much smaller. It looks like there's a bit of bezel around the keyboard on the 9000, but the keyboard goes almost to the edges of the device on the 9700.

Anyone care to bust out the calipers and actually measure the key size and key pitch?

I'm not calling it either way, since I haven't used either device. I'm also not saying that a small change in keyboard size doesn't make a huge difference in usability. Just curious as to what the facts are.

I'm using an 8900 for 3 months now and still make typing mistakes that I never made on the 9000. But, I can't give up the 256 RAM and 3.2 camera for facebook mobile posts. I do miss the 9000 speakers also. Any opinion if the 9700 keyboard is better than the 8900 for "man thumbs"?

I won't be upgrading. Sure I'll check it out in store, but to me the BOLD 9000 redefined luxury and functionality in a smartphone. I came from the 8820, which I feel is the same keyboard layout and feel as the 9700 "BOLD." As crucial_extreme said in a post in the Bold 9000 forum, next year there will be a better BOLD that has the same form factor as the 9000. That, I will be sure to upgrade as I will not use my upgrade with AT&T now.

If I would get the 9700, I might as well get the Verizon TOUR since it's just as small AND better coverage than AT&T. I hate AT&T's crappy 3G service. That alone does not warrant an upgrade. If AT&T can't get their act together in terms of network stability, they might as well lost another customer.

So I got the Bold 9000 last December, and it was my first ever BlackBerry which I instantly fell in love with. It's true that once you use a 'Berry, you can't go back to just any other phone. I loved the feel of the phone, and I have big hands so the bigger keyboard was a plus.

Then my world came to a crashing halt a couple of weeks ago when I accidentally left it with my pants as I threw it in the wash! I was so sad. I felt so disconnected from everything without it. About a week or so later, I ended up buying a cheap used Curve 8310 off someone from Craigslist just to hold me over since the 9700 was coming out so soon.

So since I'm getting used to the smaller size of the 8310, I think I'll have an easier time adjusting to the new 9700 once it comes out for AT&T. =)

5.0 and trackpad is awesome, but the 9000 vs 9700 hardware wise is like comparing a hyundai to a mercedez. RIM should come out with a 9000 running new OS, 3.2 camera, and the trackpad. The name BOLD stands out, just like the BOLD series should stand out from the rest of the blackberries that are small like the curve (besides the storm, which is wack anyway)

I'm in full agreement here. I definitely had a hard time getting used to the BOLD 9000 when it came out but I did in time. I feel the same will happen when I pick up the 9700 but it should definitely be branded as a new curve and not a BOLD. The BOLD name and phone stood out for a reason!

the size is exactly the reason why i think the hybrid touchscreen-physical keyboarded BB will be the real Bold heir
i love the looks of the 9700 since the first pic leaked, but i cant help but complain about the smaller screen, smaller keyboard, and basically being the 3G/HSDPA version of the 8900..

I'm currently using the Bold 9000, and was really looking forward to the new 9700. I am sure it is a great device; I'm positive it is, but it seems more like a new curve to me, than a "Bold".

Since I'm pretty happy with with I have now, and will also be getting OS 5.0 in the near future, I see no reason to part with my beloved 9000. I just love the size and feel of it. Sure, I'd love the new camera (I love the camera in the 8900) and definitely would love the extra memory, but I'm not hurting for memory at the moment, and I have pro Canon EOS gear, as well as a quality Canon 10mp pocket camera, that I can use. (how? I put the microSD into a SD adapter, and then pop it into the Canon pocket cam: after shooting, pop it into the blackberry; sweeeeeeet).

Kevin said it best: "If RIM would just update the 9000's innards now too, they'd make EVERYONE happy." I want an upgrade to the 9000, not just some new Curve that been named Bold. Come on, RIM!

I've always been addicted to skinny phones. I currently have the slimmest Sony Ericsson ever produced and I'm still on the search for the discontinued 5.7mm Samsung of which I can't remember the name atm.

When you're wearing a well-fitted suit, a block jutting out from your shirt or your pants is horrifying. You don't want the wrong bulge to show, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I just wish that my next BB will be under 10mm thick. With a liquid lens camera.

Well for some..... Give the people a choice, why have so many phones that look exactly alike, I personally think the new bold is no different than my 8900 only with a trackpad.
If you like small then there are plenty to choose from.

I love my 9000, and I think I will miss the big keyboard. It IS an impressive device, and I love being a Bold owner.

However, I still drool every time I see the 9700, and can't wait to have one. Since I'm a girl, and have shorter fingers, I am hoping to adjust to the smaller keyboard with no problem. My first BB was an 8320, then I got the Bold, and it was like heaven to type on compared to the Curve. I also used an 8900 for a couple months recently, and have to say I missed the smoothness of the Bold's keyboard, and was happy to switch back.

I hope RIM decides not to shy away from the bigger sized device. There is still a market for it!!

Absolutely agree with you on this. I have used the Bold for over a year now and would not like the jump down in size. My g/f on the other hand has used the 8900 for almost a year and would love using the new 9700.

I'm still on the fence about this device and am not sure about changing from my Bold to it quite yet.

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